Gordon Swann

Gordon Alfred Swann (September 21, 1931 – May 22, 2014) was an American geologist. Born in Palisade, Colorado, he went to high school in Olathe, Colorado, and then served in the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1956. He received his PhD from the University of Colorado in 1962, and studied the Precambrian geology of the Front Range of Colorado while working for U.S. Geological Survey. He is notable for his work with NASA and the training of the astronauts of the Apollo program in field geology.

Swann served as the Principal Investigator of the Apollo Lunar Geologic Experiment for Apollo 14 and Apollo 15. A part of the Montes Apenninus (south of Mons Hadley) at the Apollo 15 landing site was informally called the Swann Range in his honor by the astronauts.

Besides his work for NASA, Swann was an adjunct professor at the University of Northern Arizona.

In his non-academic life Swann was a Master at the Flagstaff Masonic Lodge.

• Karlstrom, N. V.; Swann, Gordon A.; Eastwood, Raymond L., eds. (1974). Geology of Northern Arizona with Notes on Archaeology and Paleoclimate. Geological Society of America. hdl:10150/630724.
• Swann, G. A.; et al. (1977). Geology of the Apollo 14 landing site in the Fra Mauro highlands. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. LCCN 74026964. OCLC 1104157.

• The asteroid 4082 Swann is named after him by the Minor Planet Center.
• NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal
• American Institute of Professional Geologists Excellence Award
• Thirty Third Degree Scottish Rite Mason, plus two Albert Pike awards